U.S. Rep. Bart Gordon voted to increase the
federal minimum wage to $7.25 an hour, providing a benefit to 150,000
Tennessee workers.
“This bill will make a real difference to working families in
Tennessee,” said Gordon, a co-sponsor of the legislation. “While the
minimum wage has been stagnant for ten years, the cost of living has
increased dramatically. Groceries cost 25 percent more now than in 1997,
and tuition, health care and gasoline costs have doubled.”
The Fair Minimum Wage Act of 2007 was approved by the U.S. House
of Representatives today (Jan. 10). The bill now heads to the Senate for
consideration.
The bill provides for a gradual increase in the federal minimum
wage, beginning with an increase to $5.85 an hour 60 days after the
legislation is enacted. After one year, it would increase to $6.55, and the
final increase to $7.25 would occur after two years.
The minimum wage has stayed at its current level for nine years,
longer than any time in the history of the law. When adjusted for
inflation, the minimum wage is at its lowest level in 50 years.
At $5.15 an hour, a full-time minimum wage worker brings home
just $10,712 a year. In contrast, the average CEO earns more before
lunchtime than a minimum wage worker earns all year.
“Thirteen million Americans, including 3.4 million parents,
stand to benefit from this legislation,” said Gordon. “They deserve a fair
wage for an honest day’s work. No American who works full-time all year
should live in poverty.”
Gordon also said opponents of the minimum wage increase are
incorrect in saying that raising the minimum wage would hurt job growth.
“Between 1997 and 2003, employment in small businesses actually
grew more in states with a minimum wage that was higher than the federal
minimum wage,” said Gordon, citing a study released last year by the Center
for American Progress.
“The years following the 1997 increase were some of our nation’s
most prosperous times because those extra dollars were pumped back into the
nation’s economy.”

A Sparta man was injured in a one vehicle accident Saturday night on Highway 70 east near Sligo Bridge.
Trooper Shannon Brinkley of the Tennessee Highway Patrol says 44 year old Jeffery D. Caldwell was driving east in a Dodge Dakota 4 x 4 when he crossed into the westbound lane, went off the road, and struck a rock bluff.
Caldwell was taken by DeKalb EMS to DeKalb Community Hospital.
Members of the DeKalb County Volunteer Fire Department and Rescue Team were also on the scene.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has charged a 23 year old man with forgery and theft for allegedly trying to pass a forged check at a local bank.
23 year old Jacob Garrett of Old Bildad Road, Smithville is under a $5,000 bond and he will appear in General Sessions Court on January 18th.
Sheriff Ray says Garrett went to the home of a relative, took a check, then went to a local bank where he forged the name of the relative on the check and tried to cash it.
According to Sheriff Ray, Garrett has confessed to the crime.

The DeKalb County Sheriff’s Department has made another arrest in a recent burglary and theft case.
Sheriff Patrick Ray says 18 year old Homer Anthony Petty II of Banks Pisgah Road is charged with theft of property and burglary. His bond is set at $25,000 and he will be in General Sessions Court on the charges January 18th.
Petty’s father, 35 year old Homer Petty, also of Banks Pisgah Road was charged with burglary and theft of property in the same case last month. His bond is set at $40,000
Sheriff Ray says the Petty’s allegedly broke into Young’s Nursery and Greenhouses on Highway 56 south last month. A four wheeler, utility trailer, and rolls of copper wire were stolen from the nursery.
Officers have recovered the four wheeler, utility trailer, and some of the copper.

The Smithville Police Department on Friday charged 46 year old Robin Breden Williams with misusing 911 and, in a separate case on Saturday morning, arrested 24 year old Carlos Luis Mata on drug and alcohol charges
Chief Thomas J. Stufano says on Friday officers responded to the Center Hill Apartments located at 1222 South College Street in answer to a reported disturbance between two neighbors.
Upon arrival officers made contact with the neighbors regarding an apparent assault on one another but neither one wanted to press charges at the time. Police left the scene but returned approximately an hour later as one of the parties had dialed 911 requesting police response.
Officers returned to the residence only to find that the person making the call would not open the door to speak to the officers. After about five minutes, the officers were able to have the occupant open the door briefly enough to satisfy their beliefs that she was alright. However, it was apparent that she was in an intoxicated state. Officers advised her that the 911 Emergency System was only to be used for an extreme emergency and not for general police information. After 8 more 911 calls from the same person,Robin Breden Williams of 1222 South College Street, Apartment B-6 was arrested for Misuse of 911. Her bond was set at $2,500.
In another case Smithville Police came in contact with a vehicle on Highway 70 that was weaving in and out of traffic and driving in an erratic manner at approximately 1:45 am on Saturday morning. The vehicle was eventually stopped at the intersection of Highway 70 and Short Mountain Street when the driver jumped out of the vehicle and ran across the highway. Officers chased the suspect on foot and arrested 24 year old Carlos Luis Mata of a Mexico address. Upon taking Mata into custody officers found on him a bag of white powder suspected of being cocaine. Mata also had a strong smell of alcohol on his breath and was considered DUI based on additional information obtained at the scene. Numerous open cans of beer were found strewn inside the Mata vehicle. Mata was charged with DUI, evading arrest and simple possession of narcotics- (schedule II drug), violation of the open container law, and driving without a license. Bond was set at $6,500.